Carriage or support for phonographs or similar apparatus



May 16,1933.

CARRIAGE OR SUPPORT FOR PHONOGRAPHS OR SIMILAR APPARATUS Filed Oct. 23. 1931 3 Sheets-Shut 1- ll I mmvron M 0 JMMA.

A TTORNEY May 16, 1933. v N. c. DURAND 1,908,737

CARRIAGE OR SUPPORT FOR PHONOGRAPHS OR SIMILAR APPARATUS Filed oct. 33, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet s we as as .65 ea 66 l8 INVENTOR.

FIG. II A ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NELSON C. DURAND, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'IO THOMAS A. EDISON, INCORPORATED,'OF WEST ORANGE, NEXV JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY CARRIAGE OR SUPPORT FOR PIIONOGRAPHS OR SIMILAR'APPARATUS Application filed October 23, 1931. Serial No. 570,750.

The present invention relates to improvements in carriages or supports and more particularly to an improved carriage orsupport for commercial phonographs.

It is common practice to have commercial phonographs or dictating machines mountvide ample space between the users desks to fere with the users activities.

phonograph IS in or out of use, my lmproved carriage will not occupy valuable floor space move the stands from place to place, as is often desirable. This practice is exceeding ly expensive in ofiices where a large number of users are located in one room, as is quite common, and is also objectionable as each dictating machine is usually located to one side of an operators desk thus requiring the operator to turn from the usual working po-' sition to adjust and manipulate the machine.

The present invention aims to obviate these. and other objectionable features inherent in the practice now in vogue, by providing an improved carriage or support on which a phonograph may be resiliently mounted and which will render the phone-- graph easily accessible to the user when desired, and which, when the phonograph is not in use, may be easily and quickly moved into such position as not to materially interand will enable the dictating machine to be disposed directly in front of the operator working at the desk.

One'object of my invention is to provide an improved carriage of the character described, which may be easily and instantly moved into position for most eflective use by the operator, and when not in use, may be easily moved to occupy space above the operators desk, so as not materially to inter fcre with the use of the desk.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved carriage of the character described, which can be easily and quickly so positioned in respect to the operator that certain controls and parts of a. phonograph Whether the mounted thereon will be constantly in the operators normal line of vision and may be readily .manipulated at will by the operatorwith a minimum amount of interference with her work. j

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved carriage of the character described, on which a phonograph may be resiliently mounted so that interference with the recording -or reproduction of sound caused by desk, room or other extraneous vibration, will be reduced to a minimum.

Other and further objects and features of my invention will be. obvious upon an understanding of the preferred embodiment 55 about to be described, or will be indicated in the. appended claims, and various advantages not specifically referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment oi" my invention in practice.

In order that my invention may be more clearly understood, attention is. directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a carriage in accordance with my invention applied to the desk of an operator and .illustrating the convenience and accessibility of Various controls and parts of a dictating machine mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe carriage showing, in dotted lines, a fragmental portiou'of a dictating machine positioned thereon;

Fig.3 is a front elevation of the carriage showing, in dotted lines, a fragmental port on of a dictating machine positioned thereon;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the carriage mounted on a desk; Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view on line '5 5 of Fig. 2, parts being in elevation; I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 2, partsbei-ng in eleva- I Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, showing the mounting of the sound volume control on the chassis;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation looking from the right in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a bottom ing machine; and

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view taken on line 11-1 1 of Fig. 2, parts being shown in elevation.

Referring tothe drawings, Fig. 1 alfords a general idea of the use and manifest advantages of my invention as used on the usual typewriter deskB equipped with a well C, in which the typewriting machine D is mounted so that the desk may bereadily converted at the will of the operator A into a flat-top desk, all of which is well known. The desk shown is provided with a slightly overhanging top, as indicated at B, to afford clamping surface for the bracket 6, but it will be understood that the desk and typewriting machine shown are merely illustrative and that my invention can well be em ployed with other types of desks and machines.

According to my invention, a dictating machine E is positioned on the carriage 1, which comprises a chassis 1 mounted on trucks 2 having freely rotatable wheels 3, the wheels plan view of a dictatriding on the top surface of the desk and bemg so positioned in respect thereto as to be adapted to span the typewriting machine Well 0. The parts of the carriage adjacent provide compartments for recbrd tablets G, or other articles. Part of an extension arm 4 is slidably associated with the carriage 1, as will be hereinafter more particularly described, and one end of said extension arm is rigidly .affixed as by screws 5 to a bracket 6, which is firmly and removably afiixed'to the overhanging top portion B of the desk, preferably directly 0 posite the normal position of the operator The carriage 1 with the dictating machine E therein, may be moved by the operator at will within the limits of the extension arm 4; toward and away from the typewriting machine D, the extension arm at all times serving to maintain the carriage 1 in its aligned position on. the top of desk B with the wheels 3 adapted to span the well G.

From the Very general description above be easily accessible to the operator without" the dictating machine may be utilized to set forth, it will be obvious that when the? materially interfering with her work. The start-stop and backspacing control F for the machine E, is preferably (as is custonr ary) mounted contiguous the typewriting machine, as shown in Fig. 1. \Vhen the dietating machine is not in use, the carriage can be rolled back to the rear of the desk so that, if desired, the typewriting machine well can be closed and the desk used as a flat-top desk without materially obstructing the desk; or, if desired, the entire carriage may be completely removed from the desk upon unelamping the removable bracket 6. The carriage and dictating machine may then be used by another operator.

The chassis 1 is rectangular in horizontal cross section and is preferably formed of light sheet metal in the form of angular members comprising the sides 9 and bottom sections 10 of the chassis, said members being welded, riveted or otherwise secured tegetlu er. The vertical sides 9 of the chassis are disposed at substantially right angles to and are preferably integral with the horizontal bottom sections 10, thus providing a bottom having a central rectangular opening 11. Portions of the bottom sections 10 and of the vertical side 9 are cut away, as at 12 and 12 respectively, for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

I u u o t Four stiff coiled springs 14 are secured in spaced relationship on the sections 10, as by screws 15, so as to receive the usual feet 16 of a dictating machine and thereby locate the latter in substantially central longitudinal position in respect to the chassis. If desired, small metallic cups 17 may be aiiixcd to the upper ends of the springs to afford receptacles for the feet. Two cross members 19 and 19 of substantially the same vertical height as the sides 9, extend from one of said sides to the other adjacent springs 14. The bottoms of these cross members may rest on the sections 10 and the cross members may be Secured in this position by welding, riveting or'otherwise fastening the flanges 20 thereof to sides 9, all as is clearly shown in Fig. 20f the drawings.

The speed control knob 7 has a stem 21 rotatably mounted in a bushing 7' which extends through an aperture 18 provided in the front side 9 of the chassis 1 adjacent the right hand end thereof as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. That part of bushing 7 which extends inside the chassis is threaded and of substantially the same Clilil'lGtQlXlS the aperture 18; while that part of the bushing outside the chassis is provided with a shoulder 8 which is of a substantially greater diameter than the aperture, thus providing means whereby the bushingmay be secured in fixed position to said side 9 by a nut 13 threaded on the small end of the bushing. The knob 7 with its stem 21 is preferably yieldingly maintained against longitudinal movementin the bushing, as shown in Fig. the position shown in Fig. 8 by a bracket 11, by a small coiled spring 13' encircling the stem and adapted to be placed and held under tension by an adjustable collar 21 mounted on the stem 21, the collar being held in adjusted position by set screw 9'. The inner-- end of stem 21 is provided with a longitudinally extending recess adapted to receive one end of a flexible shaft 22 which is rigidly held in position by a set screw 10' (Fig. 11).

The flexible shaft 22 extends from stem 21 through a supporting member 22' on a bracket 37 (Figs. 2 and 8) to the cross member 19 and thence through a vertical tube23 mounted on a bracket 24 which is affixed to said cross member and into the casing of dictating machine E through an aperture 26. The end of the flexible shaft inside the dictating machine casing is rigidly affixed to a coupling member 28 which is adapted to be fixedly but removably attached, as by set screw 28', to one end of a screw 30. The screw 30 is threaded through a bracket 31, which is mounted on the usual mechanism support (not shown.)- of the dictating machine E (see Fig. 2). One end of screw 30 is so positioned as to contact with the usual spring-biased speed governor lever 33.

serve to effect adjustment of lever 33 to thereby control-the action of the governor and the'speed' of the machine. The coupling 28 and the screw 30 may be easily and quickly disconnected by loosening set screw 28', if it is desired to remove the dictating machine from the carriage. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the top plate of the dictating machine E is pivotally at tached, as by hinges (not shown) to the easing of themachine so that said top plate and themechanism supported thereby can easily be raised and access may be had to the interior of the dictating machine and to the motor and driving mechanism. Before'raising the top plate, it is, of course, necessary to detach the sound tube 36 from the sound box 36', to which it is removably attached in the usual manner. v V

The sound volume control 35 (see Figs. 2,

8 and 9) extends through an opening 38 in the side 9 adjacent the speed control knob 7,

and comprises an operating knob 8. The volume control is not shown or described in detail herein as it isthe invention of an associate of mine who is about to file application for Letters Patent thereon. ,Suflice for the purposes of this specification to say that the volume of sound coming from the dietating machine through the sound tube 36 can be controlled by rotation of the knob 8, which is provided with an indicating finger 37 adapted to cooperate with a scale '39 on the side 9. One end of the sound tube 36 is provided with a collar 40 and is supported Itwill thus be apparent that rotation of the knob 7 will.

I provide suitable receptacles 41 and 41 for articles, such as record tablets G. These receptacles are preferably formed of light sheet material and are provided with sloping and converging bottoms 42 and 42', as is clearly shown in Fig. 4. The receptacles 41 and '41 are each provided with de'pending flanges 43 and 44 and fit snuglyin the respective spaces between cross members 19 and 19 and the ends of the chassis with the top portions thereof substantially flush with the tops of the vertical sides 9, and are frictionally and removably maintained in such position by the cooperation of the depending flanges 43 and 44 with the vertical sides 9 of the chassis. The member 41 is slotted as at44, 45. and 44 so as to aflord space for the tube23, the volume control 35, and the bushing 7 of the speed control respectively to pass therethrpugh. i

The chassis, 1 is mounted on trucks 2, each of which is preferably formed of light sheet metal reinforced across the top as by a rigid strap- 46. Each of the trucks is preferably formed of one piece of sheet metal and comprises a flat top 47 with depending end and side flanges 48- and 49. The side flanges 49 may be cut away, as at 50 and 51. The wheels .3 of, each truck are mounted for rotation on pins 52, which extend transversely between and are fixed in the two depending side flanges 49, it being understood that suflicient space is provided between said flanges t permit freedom of rotation.

I While any suitable device or formof truck may be employedto afford mobility to the chassis, I prefer toemploy the particular form of truck herein shown.

In the preferred embodiment, the trucks 2 are rigidly and removably secured to the chassis by screws 54 which extend through apertures 55 in the horizontal flanges or sections 10 of the chassis and are threaded into holes provided in the top of the-truck and the supporting strap 46. In Fig. 3 of the drawing the trucks are shown mounted in position adjacent the end of the chassis. However, it may be desired at times to decrease the span between the two trucks. 'This can be easily and quickly done by removing the screws 54 from the holes 55 and moving the trucks to such position thatthe holes 57 or 58, as may be desired, are aligned with the threadedholes in the top 47 and the strip 46, and then securing the trucks in such position by the screws 54. The advantage gained by such adjustment is of great importance. For instance, if the well of a typewriter desk be narrow, the trucks may be adjusted so as to have the wheels thereof pass near the. edges of said well, consequently affording clear working spaces adjacent each side of the well. Thus papers may be left in these spaces without danger of their being soiled or mutilated.

' The carriage 1 may be maintained in the desired aligned position in respect to the top surface of a desk or other structure, by means including the bracket 6 which is adapted to be rigidly secured to such desk or other structure by clamping screws 58. The top portion of bracket 6 has two raised ribs 59 and 59' providing a channel 60 which extends across the top of the bracket. The extension arm 4, which is secured by screws 5 to the ribs 59 and 59', comprises a slide 61 which is adapted to extend through the cut-away portion 12 in one wall 9 of the carriage chassis 1 and into a slide housing 63 provided on said chassis. The construction and arrangement are such that when bracket 6 is secured to a desk and the carriage is supported on-the desk by the wheels 3-as shown, the top surfaces of the ribs 59 and 59', are substantially at the same level as the bottom wall of the channel provided by theslide housing 63, so that the member 61 will then be in cooperative relation to said housing. The slide 61 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 62 which, when the slide is positioned on bracket 6, is directly above the channel 60 of the bracket, said channel being slightly wider than the slot.

The slide housing 63 which is preferably formed of light sheet metal, extends transversely of the central portion of the chassis between the vertical sides 9 and is of such that they will properly cooperate with the studs in the slides when the latter are in assembled position within the housing, as will are assembled, the head 69' of the stud being of a diameter which is greater than the width of slot 62 and less than the width of the channel 61) in bracket 6, whereby the slides 67 and 61 will be maintained in assembled relation. lixed to slide 61 adjacent the end thereof remote from bracket 6, and is provided with an enlarged head 76' of a diameter slightly less than the width of the slot 68 in slide 67, and extends into and cooperates with said slot when the slides are assembled.

l prcferabi 'v assemble slides 61 and 67 with the stud 69 extending through the slot 62, the stud head 76 extending into the slot 68 and the stud 66 secured in the slide 67 in position to engage the slot of the slide housing 63. Part of the bottom of the slide housing is cut away, as at 71, so as to facilitate the posiliouing of the slides within the housing after the assembling thereof, as just described, which positioning is preferably accomplished as follows: The cud of slide 67 hearing the stud 66 is inserted in the'housiug through the cutaway 71 in the bottom thereof and the stud 66 carried thereby is engaged with the slot 65 of the housing, after which the slide is pushed within the housing until the stud 66 reaches the forward end of slot 65; the slide 61 is then. slid along over the bottom flanges 72 of the housing with the head of stud 76 engaging slot 68, until dimensions as to provide for free movement said stud reaches the forward end f the of the slides therein, as will presently be more fully explained. One end of housing I 63 rests on one side portion of the horizontal flange or bottom section 10 and the other end extends over and substantially covers the cutaway portions12 and 12 of'the opposite side portion of flange .10 and side 9 respectively, the housing being maintained in substantially the position shown in Fig. 2

by straps 64 and 64 which may be welded,

riveted or otherwise secured to the opposite side portions of flange 10. The upper wall of the slide housing is provided with a longitudina ly extendingslot 65 so positioned and of such dimensions as to be adapted to cooperate with the upper end of a stud 66 which is secured at its lower end to a slide 67 adjacent the front end thereof, as shown in Fig. 6. The slide 67 is-also provided with a longitudinally extending slot 68, clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The arrangement of the slots 65, 68 and 62 in? the housing 63,

' slide 67 and the slide 61 respectively, is such slot. The slides 61 and 67 are now within the housing, their weight being supported by'the bottom horizontal flanges 72. The slide 61 can now be secured to the bracket 6, as hereinbet'ore described. In order to prevent accidental removal of the slides from the housing 63 in the operation of the extenmany other known ways, but I have found that the simple and inexpensive arrange ment just described effectively prevents the accidental dislodgmcnt of the slides from the housing.

The operation of the structure just described is substantially as follows: When A stud 7 0 is securely afforce is exerted on the chassis in the direction of the arrow shown in Figs. 2 and 6,

move with the chassis; and thereafter upon continued movement of the chassis in the direction indicated, the housing 63 moves along the slide 67 until stud 66 engages the rear end of slot 65 when the arm will be extended to its limit. In the drawings, the extension arm is shown partially extended. It will be obvious that if force is then exerted on the chassis in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Figs. 2 and 6, movements of the parts reverse to those just described will take place. 'Upon fully riage so as to permit free movement of the machine with respect to the carriage by reason of its resilient mounting thereon. For this purpose, I provide a stirrup or U-shaped member 75 (clearly shown in Fig. 5) the ends of which are securely affixed, as by welding, to the top of the housing 63 at points closely adjacent one end of the slot 65 (see Fig. 2). The stirrup 75 has an opening 76 into which the small end of a member 77 is threaded. A collar 78 on the member 77 limits the inward movement of the latter so as to prevent its small threaded end from pressing against the collapsing the extension arm, stud 69 will move rearwardly in slot 62 until the head 7 0' of stud 70 engages the forward end of slot 68, whereupon the head 69' of stud 60 will be disposed in the channel 60 of bracket 6 and the carriage will be located adjacent the rear edge of the desk to which said bracket is secured and remote from the operator who is seated adjacent the opposite or front edge of the desk. It is thus apparent that the operator may move the carriage and the dictating machine mounted thereon to and from her,'at will, within the limits of and direeted by the extension arm. The extension serves to maintain the carriage in an aligned position in respect to the bracket 6 during such movement, and hence in an aligned position in respect to the typewriting machine well C. It is merely necessary to mount bracket 6 in such a position on the desk that the wheels 3 of the tracks 2 will, when the .matically by the slides and the housing.

Provision has been made for eliminating the ditliculty which would arise in noting corrections upon an index tablet or slip supported in the manner heretofore customary, which involves the use of an inclined support. This provision consists in vertically positioning the index support E on the. dictating machine so that an index slip carried thereby may be easily visualized and readily accessible to an operator at all times regardless of the height of the desk or carriage.

To prevent the possible dislodgmcnt of a machine, such as a dictating machine E. from its mounting on the resiliently supported cups 17, and possible resulting damage to the machine, I preferably movably connect the bottom of the casing of said machine to the car.-

'arm' is extended, span the well, C. After t housing 63 and thereby possibly constricting the same as to interfere with the free movement of the slides therein. The member 77 has a knurled head 79 which is greater in diameter than an opening 80 which is provided at such a point in the bottom of the machine casing that it will be substantially in vertical alignment with the opening 76 in stirrup 75 when the machine is properly positioned on its resilient mounting. The opening 8.0 is of sufiicient size freely to accommodate the collar 78 of member 77 which extends from the stirrup 75 through said opening into the machine casing. The head 79 of member 77 is normally spaced at such a distance above the bottom of the machine casing that, while it will not interfere with ordinary movement of the machine E with respect to the carriage which occurs by reason of the resilient supporting of the machine, it will effectually prevent the dislodgment of the machine from its mounting.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of parts in the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention and without sacrificing its advantages,

it is to be understood that all matter in this specification is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

v Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows: I

1. In combination with an article of furniture having a substantially horizontal upper surface, a carriage comprising a support adapted to carry a dictating machine and mounted for movement in respect to said surface, and means associated with said support adapted to limit and direct the movement thereof in respect to said surface, said u per surface being substantially.unobstructe by said means.

2. In apparatus of ,the class described in combination, a carriage comprising asupport adapted to carry a dictating machine and adapted to be mounted for movement in respect to a substantially horizontal surface.

surface, a carriage comprising a support adapted to carry a dictating machine, means whereby the support may be moved in respect to said surface and means assoeiated with a rear portion of said article and adapted to cooperate with said support upon movement thereof whereby such movementis automatically limited and directed, withoutsubstantial obstruction of said surface.

4. In combination with an article of furniture having a substantially plane upper surface, a carriage comprising a support mounted on wheels and adapted to carry a dictating machine for movement in respect to said surface and means associated with said support and said article of furniture whereby said wheels may be aligned in respect to a given portion of said surface and may be maintained so aligned during movement of the support, said means also being adapted to limit and direct such movement, without substantial obstruction of said surface.

5. The combination with an article of furniture adapted to support a typewriting machine and provided with an upper horizontal surface, of a'movable' carriage comprising a support adapted to carry a dictating machinmfor movement in respect to said surface, a member mounted in fixed position on said support and means associated with said support and with said article and comprising a slidable element-adapted to cooperate with said member to limit movement of said support in respect to said surface to a directed rectilinear movement.

6. In, combination with a movable carriage for supporting a dictating machine upon a typewriter desk, a clamping device removably attachable to a rear portion of said desk, and means associated with said device and adapted to cooperate with said carriage to regulate movement of the latter.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a device having a housing and adapted to support a dictating machine for movement in respect to a given surface, a member adapted to be "secured in stationary position in respect to an edge portion of said surface, an element connected to said member, and a second element slidably connected with saidfirst named element and.

with said device, said housing beingadaptcd slidably to receiveboth of said elements.

8. In combination, a desk having a typewriter well, a carriage for a dictating macarriage is movable transversely of said desk said well, without substantially obstructing said upper member.

10. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a carriage, a dictating machine, resilient means associated with said carriage and yieldingly supporting the dictating machine on the carriage, and means connecting said dictating machine to said carriage for limited movement relative thereto.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a carriage, a dictating machine, resilient means associated with said carriage and supporting said machine on the carirage, and means cooperating with said carriage and said machine so as to limit the movement of such machine with respect to the carriage which is provided for by said resilient supporting means 12. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a desk carriage, a dictating machine supported thereon, and a sound volume control device mounted onsaid carriageand operatively connected with said machine whereby the volume of reproduced sound may be regulated.

' 13.. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a desk carriage, a dictating machine removably mounted on said carriage and having a speed governing device, and a "member mounted on said carriage and operatively connected to said governing device, said member being adjustable to control the action of said governing device and thereby.

the speed of the operating mechanism of said machine.

14. In combination, a desk carnage, a

dictating machine supported resiliently and removably by said carriage, a sound conveyer and a speed control mounted on said carriage, and means to connect said sound conveyer and said speed control with respectively cooperating devices on said dictating machine, said means being detachable to permit removal of said dictating machine from the carriage.

15. In a desk carriage for a dictating machine, in combination, volume control mea'ns and speed control means for the dictating machine,, said volume and speed control means beingmounted on said carriage so as to be operable from the front of the latter and detachable means for connecting each of said control means to a dictating machine.

16. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a device comprising a carriage for movably supporting a dictating machine, a housing on said carriage, a member adapted to be mounted in fixed position in respect to an article of furniture for supporting said carriage, and a plurality of cooperating elements slidably connected for limited movement and adapted to extend Within said housing, one of said elements being connected to said member and anotherbeing connected to said housing.

17. in combination, a carriage adapted to be mounted for movement across the top of a desk, :1 dictating machine mounted on said carriage and spaced from one end of the latter, and supporting means for sound record tablets provided on said carriage adjacent to and substantially at the same elevation as said dictating machine mountin 18. In combination, a carriage adapted for movement in respect to the top of a desk, a dictating machine mounted on said carriage, indicating means asosciated with the sound box of said dictating machine and adapted to cooperate with an index slip, and a support for said slip associated with said dictating machine and adapted to hold said slip in a substantially vertical operating position.

This specification signed this 19th day of October 1931.

NELSON C. DURAND. 

